Feb. 5, 2025
Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County NewsCenter podcast. Coming up, learn about Plan Forward, tips for Fairfax County dog owners and the police department’s Connect Fairfax program. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
As Fairfax County's multi-year project, Plan Forward, moves ahead to update policies that guide land development, new community outreach opportunities are coming up. Plan Forward focuses on updating the policies in the Policy Plan, a part of the Comprehensive Plan, which affects future land use decisions and potential development. The county started community outreach for Plan Forward in the spring of 2024 to get different types of community feedback for potential policy updates. Covering a wide range of topics, the Policy Plan has not been updated completely since it was adopted in 1990. Plan elements, like expanding economic opportunities, providing access to public facilities and convenient modes of transportation, and creating a pleasing and sustainable environment to live and work in, are all addressed within the Policy Plan. It’s the common thread that guides land use decisions in the county. Plan Forward is an important chance to ensure the updated Comprehensive Plan policies enhance the quality of life for residents. Plan Forward is guided by several county efforts, such as the Countywide Strategic Plan, One Fairfax, Resilient Fairfax, and the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Access Strategy. NewsCenter has more on the story; fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
With more than 87,000 registered pups, many of us love our dogs (or at least like our neighbor’s dog). Of course, there are some people who may not care for excessive barking or dog poop that’s not picked up, too, so it’s important to be a responsible owner. It’s in that spirit, here’s a few ways to be a responsible dog owner in Fairfax County.
- Make sure your dog wears a collar with a current license and ID tag and has a microchip with up-to-date information.
- Vaccinate Your Dog. Proof of a valid rabies vaccine is required for licensing your dog in Fairfax County. Check with your vet to determine what other vaccines are most appropriate for your dog. Our Animal Shelter also hosts Vaccine and Microchip Clinics that allow residents to have their pets vaccinated and microchipped without the cost of a veterinary exam.
- Get Your Dog Licensed. All dogs four months and older must be licensed. Dog licenses are due annually by Jan. 31. The quickest and easiest way to apply or renew is online on the PetData website.
- Spay or Neuter Your Pet. Each year, three to four million homeless pets are euthanized in the United States. By spaying or neutering, you are doing your part to reduce pet overpopulation. Dogs that have this routine surgery tend to have longer, healthier lives and are less likely to roam.
- Obey Leash Laws. In Fairfax County, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times in public areas unless they’re in a designated off-leash area.
- Clean Up After Your Dog. Pick up dog waste and dispose of it in a public trash can or at home. Dog poop is not only unsightly, but it pollutes groundwater and is harmful to humans and wildlife. Dog waste has bacteria like E. coli, and poop left on the grass or in the woods can make its way to storm drains. Storm drains lead to lakes or streams that ultimately lead to the Occoquan Reservoir and the Potomac Rivers, our drinking water supply. Residents can contact our Stormwater Planning Division for concerns about dog waste. Reach out by email, or call them at 703-324-5500. You can also complete an online form. Also, if you notice excessive animal waste that is potentially related to animals being kept in harmful, unsanitary conditions, please contact Animal Protection.
NewsCenter has more information and links related to these tips, as well as a couple of other bits of information regarding dogs in Fairfax County that you might find helpful. Find them online at fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
The Fairfax County Police Department recently launched Connect Fairfax, a new program aimed at improving public safety by allowing participants to register their security cameras. Registering your camera does not grant police access to your footage. Connect Fairfax allows community members and commercial property owners to register their security cameras with Fairfax County Police Real Time Crime Center via an online portal. Law enforcement can quickly use this information to reference a map of relevant cameras that may contain actionable evidence that can be reviewed by our detectives. There are two options to participate in Connect Fairfax for community members, businesses, and commercial properties:
- Option 1 – Register Your Cameras: Property owners can register their security cameras for free with Connect Fairfax. Once registered, police will be aware of the camera’s location. In the event of a crime or suspicious activity in your area, our police department may contact you to see if your camera contains relevant footage. The footage collected could be used to solve crimes, locate missing people, or be used for other law-enforcement investigations. Registering your camera does not grant Fairfax County Police access to your footage.
- Option 2 – Register & Integrate Your Cameras. After registering your camera, property owners can choose to integrate their security system directly with Fairfax County Police. This allows the police department to access live footage from your camera during emergencies, criminal investigations, or incidents of suspicious activity nearby.
Get more details on Connect Fairfax from our police blog, fcpdnews.wordpress.com.
Finally, for 24/7 news and information from and about Fairfax County, listen to Fairfax County Government Radio online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/radio.
That’s all for this NewsCenter podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for news updates, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news. Follow the NewsCenter podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. You can also listen 24/7 online to Fairfax County Government Radio at fairfaxcounty.gov/radio. If you have questions, call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov. The NewsCenter podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government.